Electrotherapeutic apparatus



Aug. 17, 194s.. .a MYERS 2,447,269

ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Filed June. 6, 1946 Patented Aug. V17, 1948UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,447,269 ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS fFrederick Myers, Charlestown, Mass.

Application June 6, 1946, Serial No. 674,720

(Cl. 12S-24.3)

3 Claims.

The object of the present invention is the provision of an extremelysimple and economically constructible electrotherapeutic apparatususeful in treating the irregularities known as flat foot and weakankles.

My invention may best be understood. by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of an electrotherapeuticapparatus embodying my invention, certain parts being shown inhorizontal section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, certain parts being shown in verticalsection.

Figure 3 is a side elevation on a reduced scale of the piVoted wings,hereinafter more fully described,

Figure 4 is a diagram of one-of several modes of Iconnecting andcontrolling the several heating units that form part of the invention.

In the particular embodiment of Vmy invention selected for disclosingthe underlying principle thereof, I is a support member of any suitableconstruction or coniiguraton, said member being shown, in the presentinstance, as a box or cas- Rotatably mounted on said support member is ahollow metallic roller II' within which is disposed an electric heatingunit I2 which extends substantially throughout the length of the roller.Suitable means must be employed for rotatably mounting said roller onthe support member, and, in the present instance, such means consist oftwo axles I3, shown as integral with the cylindrical metallic plugs I4inserted in the respective ends of the tube and each provided with acollar I5 to limit the axial position thereof in the tube. The membersI4 maybe secured in adjusted position by the set screws I6 or othersuitable means. Bearings I'I of insulating material, such as hard libre,are enclosed by the bracket I8, which is secured to the top of thesupport member -by screws I9 or other suitable means.

The terminals 20 of the heating unit I2 are suitably connected to theplug members I4 and, as shown in the present instance, they may beelectrically and mechanically connected thereto by the binding screws2I.

While various means well known to those skilled in the art may beemployed to make rolling contact between the axles I3 and 'a source ofelectric power, I show, in the present instance, a pair of plate springs22, one end of each of which is elastically lheld against the ends ofthe respective axles of the roller, and the other, secured to theinsulation insert 23 by the bolt 24, which bolt is connected by a shortlead 25 to one of the prongs 26 of Za socket of any suitable form whichis carried in an aperture in one of the vertical walls of the supportmember ID. The other prong 21 of the socket is connected by the lead 28to an on-and-oil' switch and rheostat 29, the circuit of the heatingunit being completed by the lead 30 between said switch the bolt 24 andthe spring plate 22 on the right-handside of the support member IIJ.Guards 3L preferably are employed to protect the spring plates.

Pivotally mounted on the support member at the opposite ends thereofAare a pairfof wings 32, each of which encloses a" heating unit 33, eachof said wings being provided with suitable means for maintaining them'in adjusted angular position with respect-to thek roller. When'not inuse, the wings Will be folded downwardly in substantially horizontalpostion and when in use, they will be arranged substantially vertically,as shown in Fig. 2. The inner surfaces of each wing may be slightlycurvilinear, as indicated at 34, and preferablyhighly polished. In thepresent instance, the lower portion of each wing is provided with a pairof spaced ears 35 extending outwardly to afford a space 36 toaccommodate the bracket I8. Each wing will be placed between theupstanding brackets 31 which are rigidly secured to the support memberand the trunnions 38 passing through holes in the ears 35 are thenforced outwardly into registering apertures in the brackets. The inwardends of the trunnions are slightly larger in diameter than the outerends thereof so that when the apparatus is assembled, each trunnion willbe rigidly connected with the ear through which it is driven and theouter portion thereof which takes into the aperture in the brackets,will be snugly but not xedly enclosed within said aperture. The setscrew 39, which may be provided with the knurled head 4I), is inthreaded engagement with a lateral extension 4I of said brackets andpassing through an aperture in the latter, engages the trunnions 38 tosecure the wing in its adjusted position.

In Fig. 4, which shows one mode of connecting the heating units with thesource of electric power, the wing heating units 33, 33 are indicated asshunted across the circuit of the roller heating unit I2, one end of theunit 33 being connected to the bolt 24, and its other end to bolt 24',and one end of unit 33 to bolt 24 and the other to bolt 24. The rheostatresistance controlled by the knob 42 of the rheostat is indicated at Rand S represents a time switch which may be employed if desired forcontrolling-the connection of the apparatus to an electric source.

The support member, if in the form of a box as illustrated, may beprovided with handles 43.

For the treatment of flat foot, the user Will place the sole of his footon the roller and move it backward and forward, after the roller hasbeen brought to the desired temperature. As irregularities in the bonesof the arches of the foot are frequently accompanied by irregularitiesin the bones :of @the ank-le, it is yadvantageous ,to bake the ankleswhile treating 'thesiriegularities of the bones of the arches. By meansof the Wings 33, a radiation of heat from the polished inner surfacesthereof, as intense as the user may desire, is obtained by adjusting therheos'tat and the angular position of the YWings .with respect to theroller. As a time limit to the treatment may be desired, the time switch:'Smay be employed to stop the flow of current at the end of any desiredperiod of time.

. Having thus described an illustrative embodimentv of'myinventionwithout, `however, limiting th-esame thereto, whatifclaim' anddesire-to sevcureiby"Letters Patent is:

l, `In Aan electrotherapeutic apparatus ffor vthe treatment ofthe -footand ankle,"having a support memberand aroller mounted thereon, a pair ofmetallic Wings )means j pivoting :said AWings at opposite rends ofvvsaid `support' member, means secured 'to andco-operating'with saidsupport member for holding-'said wingsinAadjusted-angular Vposition withrespect to vsaid roller and means forielectricallyfheating said wingsfor the radiation of' heat' therefrom.

'2. In fanfelectrotherapeutic .apparatus for the treatmentof theffootand-ankle, having a support member and arrollerimounted thereon, ametallic Winggmeans .pivoting said :Wing to said support member at oneend thereof, means secured to and co-operating with said support memberfor holding said Wing in adjusted angular position with respect to saidroller, and means for electrically heating said Wing for the radiationof heat therefrom.

3. An electrotherapeutic apparatus for treatment of the foot and ankle,comprising in combination, a hollow metallic roller, an electricVheating unit disposed within andextending substantially throughout thelength of said roller,

'asupport member, bearings of insulating material oppositely disposed onsaid support member, metallic axles mounting said roller in saidhearings, a pair of metallic Wings pivotally mounted at opposite ends ofsaid support member, means secured to and co-operating with saidrsupport member for holding said Wings in adjusted angular position withrespect to said roller, electric heating units disposed in therespective Wings and means connecting the 1'heating unit Within saidroller and the heating units within said wings with a source ofelectricV power.

"i FREDERICK MYERS.

REFERENCES YCITED The following references are of record vinthe ille of.this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 926,245 Coon June V29, 19091,664,009 Weber Mar. 2'?, 1928 1,840,981 Sick Jan. 21, 1932 1,965,918Auberger July 10, '1934 1,984,520 Curtis Dec. 18,1934

